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Earlier today, Republican legislators voted to blow open the U.S. Constitution by advancing a series of bills that call for a Constitutional Convention. Pushed by out-of-state corporations, billionaires and right-wing groups including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), this scheme seeks to knee cap the federal government, decimate social safety nets, and roll back environmental and civil rights protections. If passed by the State Senate, Wisconsin would become the 30th state, out of the 34 needed, to call for a constitutional convention.
Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) released the following statement:
“I was at the 2013 ALEC annual meeting with many of my GOP colleagues when a group founded by the co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots and bankrolled by the Koch Brothers rolled out this campaign to rewrite our federal constitution. Their goal is not just to prevent the federal government from responding to a national emergencies and economic downturns, but to roll back clean drinking water protections, civil rights, anti-discrimination laws and our most valued social safety nets like social security.
“I wish my Republican colleagues would use their power to advance the priorities of the people of our state by ensuring that every citizen has access to quality, affordable health care, that the social security payments they will need in retirement continue, and that we return to delivering a quality public education so every child has a chance to succeed. Instead, our state is in disarray under their leadership. Our roads and bridges are falling apart, our private sector job growth is anemic and wages for working families and individuals are falling. They can’t even get a budget passed or solve our transportation crisis – They think they should be in charge of amending the constitution?”
